Evacuating Indonesian Citizens from Sudan Using the Relay Pattern, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno: The Situation is Very Fluid and Dynamic

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono gave a press statement at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. (Screenshot of the YouTube channel of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the evacuation of Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Sudan was carried out in a relay pattern to get them out of the war zone as soon as possible.

Garuda Indonesia aircraft with flight number GA991 carrying 385 Indonesian citizens, consisting of 248 women and 137 men, 43 of them children, arrived safely at 05:46 a.m. of Western Indonesian Time (WIB) at Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Soetta), Tangerang on Friday, April 28.

"This is the arrival of the first stage in the homeland of Indonesian citizens who were evacuated from Sudan via Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)," said Foreign Minister Retno who together with National Army (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono welcomed the arrival of Indonesian citizens at Soetta Airport.

Foreign Minister Retno further explained that the evacuation process this time was carried out using a relay evacuation pattern, starting with the evacuation by road from Khartoum to Port Sudan. Then from Port Sudan to Jeddah, either by sea or by air, and then returned in stages to Indonesia.

"We are implementing this evacuation pattern to respond to a very fluid and dynamic field situation, with the aim of immediately removing Indonesian citizens from dangerous conflict areas," explained Foreign Minister Retno.

"Thank God, this pattern went smoothly and we even helped several foreigners (foreign nationals) to participate in our evacuation," she continued.

According to the plan, the second phase of repatriation to Indonesia will be carried out on April 29, arriving in Indonesia on April 30. And the third stage of repatriation, as well as closing the entire evacuation process, will be carried out on April 30 using an Indonesian Air Force aircraft.

"As of now, only 111 Indonesian citizens are still in Port Sudan. Today they will be flown to Jeddah on an Indonesian Air Force plane," said Foreign Minister Retno.

She added that each evacuation process has a different character. Each evacuation process has different challenges and difficulty levels.

"Thank God, the evacuation from Sudan this time was carried out smoothly. And we can only do this because of the cooperation of many parties," closed Foreign Minister Retno.

The plan is that all Indonesian citizens who have arrived in the country will go directly to Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory, given the long and tiring journey they have taken since Sudan.

The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture will provide health check services to consultations. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and related agencies will facilitate repatriation to their respective regions.